This handbook gathers a wealth of insight and information on 50 of history's greatest philosophical thinkers and ten major philosophical theories. From the classical voices of Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato to the revolutionary polemics of Marx and the educational lessons of Piaget and Chomsky, the book introduces the key concepts that are the backbone of philosophical thought, including metaphysics, psychoanalysis, libertarianism, and feminism.

"[A] clear, concise, objective mini-reference source.... The two-page stand-alone entries are headlined with an introductory paragraph that summarizes the topic at hand. Useful diagrams and drawings illustrate key tenets, questions, or theories. The language is simplified but not simplistic. Philosophy begins with the ancient Greeks and goes on to cover metaphysics, epistemology, the Enlightenment, psychology, and sociology; it also addresses political, educational, and feminist theories, and concludes with postmodernism."—School Library Journal